I too was at the Fall VAR, and probably one of the later people that were up. I would like to say that there were a lot of people who were up enjoying the music, and a lot of people who were coming and going all night long. I don't believe these people were some that were sleeping, and coming over to complain, since they were sitting, singing, and dancing with us. I will say that I didn't hear the 2:30 screem to the campground. I must have been somewhere else at that time, and that definitly wasn't the proper thing to do. I will also say that cavers know people at the pavilion will be up late, and partying late, and should use that information as to where they should set up camp. This site was a HUGE site, and camping near the pavilion wasn't necessary. Although staying up until about 5AM wasn't right, I don't see any reason to shut down music activities at 12AM when there are a lot of people around participating in the activities. Maybe in the larger camping areas there could be a designated quiet area, in the smaller camping areas maybe some sort of quiet hours will have to be addressed.

While this VAR the music volume was extreme & inconsiderate. I can assure you that at the Spring 2006 VAR this will not be a problem. We have already had a talk with the DJ who will be supplying the tunes and the volume will not increase as the hours dwindle. In fact the music will fade between midnight & one. For those of you who are considering making the Fall VAR your last, please give us one more chance. For those who wish to party all night - get head sets.

Actions of this nature reflect badly upon the Society as a whole, even cavers across the nation. The NSS and its member events do not exist in a vacuum and negative activities that happen at official functions of the Society are noticed by outsiders.

On Sunday, I spoke at length with the owner of a commercial cave in Arkansas. This owner, who also is an NSS member, reported to me that he hates every time a regional event is held within easy driving distance of his business. He says that commercial cave owners in the United States are beginning to look at the NSS as the "sex, drugs and rock and roll" association.

Another commercial cave owner from Kentucky told me that members of the National Caves Association are growing increasingly tired of NSS members coming to their caves and disrupting their business operations. Apparently, NSS cavers are demanding free admittance, special off-trail tours, etc. of the cave owners.

I've been a member of the Society since 1974. For many years, members were instructed by the Society's leadership on both the national and local level that cavers should use care and consideration when visiting commercial caves. Yet, today, there's never any such direction from our leaders.

All of this - bad caver attitudes when visiting commercial caves, loud all-night parties, etc. - are diminishing the value of the Society and encouraging both public and private land owners to begin thinking twice about allowing NSS members the privilege of visiting their caves.

The NSS Board of Governors might do well to establish an independent committee to further investigate such matters thoroughly and completely. Our reputation as a serious-minded national organization is at stake.